Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-04-08
IS ! !
4 CLOSE SHAVE FOR LICENSE
OUT OF 4 VOTE OF 1161.

NEW ORATORS, NEW MUSIC, AND
NEW INFLUENCES IN A STANTON
ELECTIoN-REJoICING OF THE VETS.
&C., &C., sc.
The largest vote cast by Staunton in a
political struggleint the past was 1889. That
cast in the remarkable non political one
which closed Tuesday evening was 1161.
1t was the first fight at the polls here in
which the voters totally ignored race and
politics; the first in which the press took
no partizan part, and the first in which
the churches through their ministers
came to the front. Its novel history is in
teresting, and we shall try to give as far as
practicable correct account of it, COM
mencing with the two sides--the SWEET"
and "Dry''-for early in the action whether
their advocates accepted it or not, the
public dubbed those advocating the
license of spirituous liquors the ''Wets"
and their opponents the "Drys.''
THE "DRYs."
The party which started the fight was the
Orys. About two months ago Mountain
City Lodge of Good Templars appointed
committee to inquire into the expediency
of making the contest at this time. Vol
unteers were called for to carry around
the petition, and get the legal number of
signatures to authorize the Judge of the
Hastings Court to call an election on Lii
cense or No License. The volunteers
were easily found, and they were not long
in getting the signers-a work in which
they received active assista nee from mem
bers of the W. G. 7. q. The ] Judge ordered
the election for April 5th and the Drys
commenced their preparations for war.
Money was not plentiful, but some was
subscribed by citizens and some $50 was
realized by a supper given at the Rink by
the ladies of the Good Templars Lodge.
Besides this, $40 was realized from the
voting off of gold Templars badge
This was about the campaign fund, as far
as we have been able to learn. with which
the fight was started. Other contributions
in food and money were made later, but
this was the start. The immense Skating
Rink was hired for public meetings, the
speakers stand changed to the side, and
above it were hung three banners Of the
Women's Christian Temperance Union,
with the inscription ''For God and Home.
and Native Land" Blue silk badges
were printed having on them golden star.
but no inscription, which was the badge
to be worn by the voters on election day.
An outside committee to run the cam
paign, such as would take the place of an
executive committee in political party
Sight, was formed with headquarters at
the Hurley building, but it was notice
able fact that there was no local polIti-
clan of either party in it, and that the
whole campaign work was done by men
either totally unfamiliar with political
campaign management, Or who had at
most had little experience in polling the
public vote.
THE VETS.
When Che petition for Local Option
first appeared on the streets the License
men were taken by surprise, and inclined
TO be amused. The largest vote ever cast
for Prohibition candidate in Stanton
was about 40 for Sc. John for President and
about 80 for the Prohibition nominees for
the legislature some years ago, and it was
hardly thought possible that the Local
Optionists seriously contemplated fight
here. 1t was not known that quiet feeling
of dissatisfaction had grown up with the
manner in which the liquor law had work
ed. and an outspoken feeling that some
thing more effective was needed. When
she Judge made his order for the election,
however, the amusement was at an end
and the License men addressed them
selves to work. 1t was we'll understood
that the colored vote would he contested
for by both sides and active politicians of
both parties went to work On the Wet side
TO capture 1t. A hall was hired-the old
Democratic Workingmen's Club On New
street-it was literally decorated with
National flags and a headquarters estab-
lished there. Red silk badges we're adop-
ted for the Vets. some of them being prin-
ted with the words WET, you bst." and
Others being plain. An assessment was made
among the dealers for q campaign fund
but the money was not 50 plentiful as the
uninformed public believed nor was it SO
easy to get as it had The credit OF being
PRINTERS INK.
FIle press was open to both sides for
Communications. but that medium was
not very largely used by the Drys, and no5
at all by the Vets. Tue Vets preferred
The circular business and had a large
amount of literature printed in the home
job Offices and sheet quite equal in size
to newspaper, printed in Richmond
The Drys also patronized the job offices,
and the air Was full Of circulars and coun-
ter circulars issued by the contending par
ties. On most Of them was to be read the
s'great SUGGEST or ''Gotal failure7 of the
experiment Of Local Option at Waynes-
boro, q bone which was persistentiy knaw-
ed by each side.
THE TWO FORCES AT WORK.
On the Dry side was arrayed th 3 ma or
portion Of the influence of the churches,
the ministers. the sympathies of nineteen
twentieths of the female population. and
the Temperance men in a body. On the
Wet side were those engaged in or depen-
dent on the business assailed, the large
majority Of the local politicians. and an
active element which had no interest in the
matter ether than sympathy with the
law abiding liquor dealers and an unwill-
ingness to see the innocent suffer with the
guilty in the general break up Of the busi-
mess which was threatened. Besides these,
"a large number Of the voters fer License
were men conecientiously opposed to
snmptuary laws in any form. Very promi-
nent citizens, beth socially and in public